Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey – A Project Summary

Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey – A Project Summary

History of Dunkeswell Abbey

Dunkeswell Abbey is a scheduled 13th century Cistercian abbey 2 miles north of the village of Dunkeswell. Some upstanding remains survive today and parts of the abbey church are incorporated into the current Victorian church constructed in 1841-2 by the Simcoe family. Dunkeswell Abbey was the ‘daughter’ of Forde Abbey, and was founded in 1201 by William Brewere. By the time of its dissolution in 1539 it was counted as one of the major monastic houses in Devon

Monasteries were an essential part of medieval life and acted as the centre of worship, learning and charity. Unlike many other monastic orders, the Cistercians sought seclusion and believed in living a very simple life, valuing hard work, study, prayer and self-denial. They were known as the ‘white monks’ as they wore undyed tunics to distinguish themselves from Benedictine monks who wore black.

The Cistercians would have chosen to build their Abbey at Dunkeswell because of its rural location and proximity to water, timber and other natural resources. The Cistercians were skilled at managing water and diverted local watercourses to supply the large fish ponds where they farmed fish. The earthworks of these fishponds are still visible today.

As well as monks, the community at Dunkeswell would have included many lay brethren who acted as ploughmen, dairymen, shepherds, carpenters and masons. Some masonry remains of the lay-brothers dormitory (which would have been on the first floor of the west range) can be seen at the site.

The site is now a Scheduled Monument and is currently on the Historic England Heritage At Risk register. The abbey is an important part of the Blackdown Hills historic landscape and helped shape the environment we see today.

Ruins of the west range of Dunkeswell Abbey with the Victorian Church behind

The ruined remains of the west range with the Victorian Church behind

Aims of the Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey Project

Doscovering DUnkeswell Abbey project logo

Start Date: 2019-04-12 End Date: 2020-04-30

Although the abbey is an important part of the Blackdowns historic landscape, it was not well known or understood in the wider community. Very little of the abbey survives today and a lack of signage or interpretation information at the site made it difficult for the community to connect with or understand the layout and significance of the abbey complex.

The aim of the project was to raise the profile of the abbey and to help the community connect with and understand the site through a community archaeology programme, multi-generational community engagement activities and interpretation material on-site. There was a focus throughout the project on enabling volunteers to learn new skills and on increasing well-being.

The project was run by Heritage Arts and People (HAP) CIC, in partnership with the Blackdown Hills AONB.

The project ran for 1 year and involved:

  • River Walking Survey
  • Earthwork Survey
  • Geophysical Survey
  • Test pit excavation
  • Programme of learning with schools and community groups
  • School education packs
  • Tours and activities during Heritage Open Day

During the project HAP worked with more than 30 volunteers on research fieldwork and learning opportunities. Volunteers worked alongside professional archaeologists learning skills and gaining knowledge about both Dunkeswell Abbey and the techniques being used to further understand it.

New Discoveries: Our Community Archaeology Programme

The volunteer programme gave our volunteers an enriching and enjoyable learning experience and helped them discover more about the abbey complex.

River walking survey Dunkeswell Abbey

During the river walking survey volunteers helped to recover medieval floor tiles, peg tiles and building materials. At least one of the decorated floor tiles represented a previously unknown design. The discovery of tile wasters revealed completely new evidence for the production of plain peg-tiles (used in roofing) on the site, supporting emerging evidence that the parishes around Dunkeswell supported a major ceramics industry in the medieval period and in the 16th century.

Floor Tile Fragments from Rover Walking at Dunkeswell Abbey

Floor Tile Fragments

The results of the earthwork survey at Abbey Mill Farm suggest that the earthworks represent the remains of part of the inner precinct boundary of the abbey, with the remains of two building platforms which may be the sites of service buildings for the cloisters.

The geophysical survey explored four areas around the abbey ruins to try and further understand the nature of earthworks previously identified during aerial surveys.

Geophysical survey near Dunkeswell Abbey, Devon

Geophysical survey with volunteers

Following on from the geophysical survey, two test pits were excavated in an area identified as a possible furnace/extractive site, targeting a linear earthwork and putative slag deposit. The excavation revealed large quantities of dumped metal working waster: iron smelting slag, fragments of clay furnace lining and possible iron ore. The possible in-situ remains of a clay structure, potentially a smithing hearth bottom, were also discovered, suggesting on site iron working production. A sample taken from a sealed burnt layer had the potential for radiocarbon dating, so with a grant from the Blackdown Hills AONB, the material was processed and a radiocarbon date extracted. The radiocarbon determination for charcoal recovered from the sample returned a date in the late Roman Period.

Volunteers were involved in all of the archaeological investigations, as well as sessions with heritage experts and a trip to the Devon Heritage Centre.

Dunkeswell Abbey on Tour

As part of the project we worked with local primary schools and community groups to share the results of the community archaeology programme. In addition to this, an open day was held at the abbey during the Heritage Open Days 2019. More can be read about that here.

Heritage Open Day at Dunkeswell Abbey, Devon

Heritage Open Day at Dunkeswell Abbey

Reconstructing Drawing of the Abbey

Before the closure of Dunkeswell Abbey following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. it would have acted as a centre of worship, learning and charity, full of activity, industry and life. To try and help visitors understand how the abbey might have looked, historic buildings specialist and illustrator Richard Parker was commissioned to create a reconstruction drawing of the abbey.

Reconstruction drawing of Dunkeswell Abbey, Devon

Reconstruction drawing of Dunkeswell Abbey (for a labelled version see leaflet attached below)

“The Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey project was very much welcomed by Historic England as an enabling project to test and develop the levels of local and wider social engagement at this relatively remote and unknown but nationally important site.  The outcomes have been excellent, the HAP team have sought ought and brought together interested local people and individuals as well as people from further afield. It was really impressive to see the commitment and dedication demonstrated by the HAP team being ably communicated to volunteers and local people, some of whom have continued to work on aspects of research and conservation at Dunkeswell Abbey even after the project closed.” Charlotte Russell, Heritage at Risk Projects Officer, Historic England

Reports relating to Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey

Additional Resources

Funders and supporters

The Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey project was funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund, with additional funding from Devon County Council and the Blackdown Hills AONB.

The project was supported by:
Historic England
Dunkeswell Abbey Preservation Trust

Project Location

Parts of Dunkeswell Abbey are open to the public and interpretation material is now available to view in the red phonebox near the entrance to the Holy Trinity Church. There is also an interpretation board and leaflets inside Holy Trinity Church, located on the site of the Cistercian abbey church.

Roman Ironworking Site Discovered at Dunkeswell Abbey

Roman Ironworking Site Discovered at Dunkeswell Abbey

The community archaeology programme was a key part of our National Lottery Heritage Funded Project ‘Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey’ (DDA). As part of the programme the HAP team, working with volunteers, made a surprising discovery. A test pit investigation on land near the Abbey revealed burnt material dating back to the late Roman Period.

Test PIts Iron Working Dunkeswell Abbey

Initial test pit layout and top soil removal

Dunkeswell Abbey was a Cistercian abbey complex founded in 1201 and was in occupation until its dissolution in 1539. The Cistercians would have chosen to build their Abbey at Dunkeswell because of its rural location and proximity to water, timber and other natural resources. A major strand of the DDA project was to extend the existing body of knowledge of the Abbey and its history, alongside engaging the local community.

Prior to the test pit excavation, a river walking survey was carried out near the abbey in June 2019 as part of DDA’s community archaeology programme. The discovery of tile wasters revealed completely new evidence for the production of plain peg-tiles (used in roofing) on the site. This discovery supported emerging evidence that the parishes around Dunkeswell supported a major ceramics industry in the medieval period and in the 16th century.  Since the test pits would be targeting an area of suspected iron working activity, the team wondered whether evidence of another industry – medieval iron working – might also be discovered.

The two test pits were excavated in November 2019 about 250m west of the abbey, in an area identified as a possible furnace/extractive site, targeting a linear earthwork and putative slag deposit. The excavation revealed large quantities of dumped metal working waste: iron smelting slag, fragments of clay furnace lining and possible iron ore. The possible in-situ remains of a clay structure and potentially a smithing hearth bottom, were also discovered, suggesting on site iron working and production.

Test pit Dunkeswell Abbey

Excavating the test pit

A sample taken from a sealed burnt layer had the potential for radiocarbon dating, so with a grant from the Blackdown Hills AONB, the material was processed and a radiocarbon date obtained. The radiocarbon determination for charcoal recovered from the sample returned a date in the late Roman Period (230-380AD). This is considerably earlier than had been anticipated and is broadly contemporary with Roman iron working deposits recorded at Bywood Farm, located 3km to the southeast. The presence of a possible Roman quern stone is suggestive of additional associated settlement activity in the vicinity of the site.

Whilst the test pit did not provide a date for medieval iron working activity, the fact that late Roman iron working activity was taking place on the site was a very exciting discovery. Radiocarbon dates in the Early Medieval period have also been returned from metal working residues at Bywood Farm, so we know that there was also medieval iron working activity in the area. The test pit investigation was small scale but very worthwhile and has highlighted the considerable potential for further investigation.

Land East of Burnsome Forde, Dunkeswell Abbey, Devon. Archaeological Test Pit Excavation [pdf]

Bringing a Community Together through Food

Bringing a Community Together through Food

This short film summarises the What’s on Your Plate – The Food that Makes Our Community project, a National Lottery Heritage Fund project led by the West Exe Nursery School and supported by the HAP team. It’s a great summary of a small, intergenerational community project which ran over 2019.

The project involved working with the St. Thomas community in Exeter, bringing people together to explore their history through the food they have made, eaten, enjoyed and shared. Children from the West Exe Nursery School visited Age UK to allow the youngest members in the community to learn about their food heritage from the oldest members of society.

Through the project we’ve actually got to know people. We’ve built real relationships, meaningful relationships with different people. One of the biggest things from that is the sense of wellbeing it’s brought for us, for all the children, for the staff because it’s very exciting, something different. And for the old people, they’ve really enjoyed it, so I think that’s a huge outcome.” Katharine Pringle, Nursery Lead Teacher

Whats On Your Plate from RA Projects on Vimeo.

 

Dunkeswell Abbey Interpretation Boards up!

Dunkeswell Abbey Interpretation Boards up!

Our display in the red phone box at Dunkeswell Abbey is now up! Here’s Catherine, giving you a preview of the display.

Here’s a close up of the new interpretation board, showing a reconstruction drawing of the abbey. There are also some leaflets available for people to take away.

Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey Interpretation Board Devon

The red phone box is located in the small car parking area next to Dunkeswell Abbey. The interpretation board and leaflets were produced and paid for as part of Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey, a National Lottery Heritage Fund project.

Discovering Dunkeswell Abbey red phone box display Devon

Exeter’s New City of Literature Status

Exeter’s New City of Literature Status

HAP went along to an Essence event about the new Exeter City of Literature status earlier this month. If you haven’t heard about Exeter’s new UNESCO City of Literature status it’s exciting news! Councillor Rachel Sutton and Dom Jinks gave a presentation explaining why Exeter got this prestigious title, which it will keep in perpetuity.

Exeter City of Literature Presentation

A big reason Exeter proudly sees itself as a City of Literature is the Exeter Book. This remarkable manuscript is a C10th anthology of poetry (and riddles) in Old English and it’s held at Exeter Cathedral. It’s of major importance as one of only four known poetic manuscripts in Old English. If you haven’t heard of it before, hopefully you will become much more aware of it as Exeter proudly asserts it’s new City of Literature status and exciting new projects emerge. You can also view it during special open days at the Cathedral Archives – so keep an eye out on their website for open days.

Other reasons Exeter is a worthy recipient of this title are the University of Exeter’s collections and their award-winning English Departments, as well as a host of esteemed writers with connections to Exeter and Devon, such as Michael Morpurgo, Agatha Christie and Hilary Mantel. Exeter also organises literary events such as the Exetreme Imagination festival which are already putting it on the map as a city of stories and writing.

The vision given during the presentation is to develop Exeter as a city where a love of stories connects to the wellbeing of our communities and to inspire the growth of literature related industries in Exeter and Devon. We look forward to being involved and working with other arts and culture organisations across the city to help further this vision.